On 23 May 2009, Diabetic children from the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital was treated to a ‘Diabetic Camp’ at the Froggy Pond Cape Times Fresh Air Camp at Simonstown, Cape Town

The ‘Diabetic Camp’ is hosted on an annual basis by the organisation, Diabetes South Africa.  The aim of the camp is to educate young people about Diabetic health issues.  Various subjects were openly discussed with the childen, like the proper management of their metabolic disease through diet and medication and the various complications and consequences of not managing their disease correctly.

Jonga Trustee, Ms Di Powell was asked to give the children a lecture on Diabetic Retinopathy. Using colourful PowerPoint slides, she explained that Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of Diabetes in the eye when the disease is not properly controlled.  Her lecture explained the different stages which Diabetic Retinopathy follows, until the final stage is reached when excessive bleeding and nerve damage occurs on the retina leading to visual impairment and finally visual loss. 

Ms Di Powell also arranged for the Jonga Trust Retinal Screening service to be present.  The Retinal Screening service allowed the children to interact with the medical personal and their diagnostic equipment in a non-threatening manner and also gave the children the opportunity to view their own retinas at first hand.  Through this process the children learned they can empower themselves to take responsibility and look after their own eyes by having their retinas screened on a regular basis by Jonga Trusts’ friendly staff and their non-invasive, non-mydriatic retinal cameras. 

The ‘Diabetic Camp’ proved to be a great success with many of the Diabetic children showing great interest in learning how to care for their own eyes.